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"The Eden Project?"
"Yeah, they are ramping it up to prove it's a real lifeboat kinda scenario, final approval has been given for the go ahead. Your Doomsday Scenario was the one chosen" Owen tried to talk fast as he watched his childhood friend lean back, the usual 'No' response to anything outside of Ianto Jones's comfort zone "look… we need an archivist. It's for twelve months, locked in there with no outside interference just like we are on the moon or some shit. Twelve months in a bubble world. Then at the end of it we are released with fifty thousand smackers each!"
The mention of the money did not phase Ianto as he lowered his eyes back to Owen "Really?"
"You can get over the Hallett bitch with the four month intensive testing and training before we go inside, give you time to sort your shit out!" Owen said firmly "and as for Rhiannon… you can finally let her have what she asked for. Freedom from your smothering. Come on, you've been off grid for over a year already, what's another one? They removed your names from the project after the fiasco with her so you would be an unknown coming in and the only one of us that knows that place like the back of his hand. The others would have no idea that you are a creator. Come on, a final fuck you to the fat cats that forced you out and broke their promise. Win-win."
"She will never survive without my help. Rhia is useless!" Ianto groaned, rubbing at his face. "She's older than me but I am the parent in our relationship… maybe you are right. Sink or swim time."
"And then when she sees you a year after happily waving you off, she will be grateful for the money you always gave her, the help with the kids and she will be nagging you to start help her about the place and do the rubbish bins again" Owen grinned.
"Do you know who else will be in there with us?" Ianto asked, nervy again.
"There will be twelve of us all up, the CCTV is how they will monitor us along with the reports you will put in each day, come on." Owen poked at him "You know you wanted to find a hole to climb into… come on. A loophole is the best kind right?"
"What can it hurt?"
.
.
"OK, I am Captain Jack Harkness, I will be the team leader for the duration" the man said as he stood at the front of the room oozing sex appeal. So much that Ianto wanted to go take a shower to wash off the stench of sexy. God… he was like… soooo yummy and it was hard to ignore. Ianto didn't know how no one else saw it. It was cloying.
"Toshiko Sato, Tech support" Owen's wife said as she turned to her husband bedside her.
"Owen Harper, MD. Clearly I am the medic"
"Gwen Cooper, I am the mediator and councillor"
Ianto blinked as he stared at her wondering what the hell that was for as he did not remember one on the original list he had proposed, but then another person was speaking and it explained the need to create a job for her "I'm Rhys Williams, Gwen's fella. I'm the caretaker."
"Suzie Costello, fix-it girl"
"Andy Davidson" came another voice an Ianto swung with surprise to see another childhood friend Owen had managed to rope in "Botanist."
There were others he didn't know but Ianto was now focused on those he did. Owen, Andy and Rhys. If only Jack fucking Harkness could stop oozing all over the place. Hard to focus with that much cologne. Damn.
They would undergo the medical tests and start learning how to use the exercise equipment that would be available inside the dome… like… how stupid do you have to be not to know how to use… oh. Gwen seemed excited about this.
Ianto was just silently hoping this would not go horribly wrong like he had warned them it might when he submitted this idea.
After all… this was his baby before the Agency took over and overruled him.
Just as well he used a penname in the paperwork and was careful who he met face to face. Owen was right... they will be livid.
.
.
"So, Mister Jones. Last week of freedom before we do the photo ops and close the doors. You coming out for Karaoke? Last chance to get bladdered" Jack asked as he tried to work out who this cool cat really was. So aloof, so apart and yet he was like a flame to this sexy butterfly. Come on, you cannot EVER call Jack a moth.
"Are you kidding? Last week? After all the intense physical training and medical tests and psyche evals? No. My last few nights of freedom will be spent in the largest, hottest bubble bath with some wine and grunge music turned up so loud the neighbours are pissed at me" Ianto replied as he change course and left Jack walking alone, pondering an answer.
By the time he realized Ianto had ditched him it was too late to backtrack.
Damn if this guy moved like a wraith sometimes.
Like he knows this place.
Of all the players in this game, Ianto was the only strange cat Jack could not quite work out.
And it intrigued him no end.
Oh… and his 'end' was nice to look at too.
Jack loved a challenge.